Ebert to Sun-Times: I'll Strike, Too

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Oct 20, 2004 6:02PM

It's 1:10 and you know what that means: The Sun-Times and union employees' noon deadline has come and gone. Those employees need to get out.. like.. uh.. NOW!

Chicagoist has discovered that the union workers have a website. It includes some helpful information about who they are, why they're striking, and what you can do to help their cause, if you wish to do so. What Chicagoist found most interesting was a letter from Roger Ebert to John Cruickshank, the Sun-Times publisher. In it Roger says,

It would be with a heavy heart that I would go on strike against my beloved Sun-Times, but strike I will if a strike is called.

The recent revelations about Hollinger mismanagement have left me feeling betrayed, and I know they did you, too. There were obviously millions of dollars winging away to the Radler and Black billfolds while we worked in a building where even basic maintenance was ignored.

I realize I am not underpaid. Far from it. I do not anticipate getting a raise under a new contract. But I have been a Guild member since 1967 and I will stand with my fellow Guild members if this comes to a crisis.

I hope a reasonable solution can be found that will prevent a strike at this crucial time in the paper's history.

Now, up until this point, we must admit that we weren't really paying that much attention to the strike.. but now.. threaten to take away our movie reviews!? That's absurd!